Laurel Abell
Children's Book Writer
Who am I?
As a mom of six, a former foster mom, a life-long educator, and a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in foster care, I write relatable stories to deeply engage and inspire kids. Through word play, metaphor, and symbolism, I focus on the art of making reading fun as well as fascinating. As a result, my body of work is often informational—but also meaningful, insightful, relevant, and entertaining. Whether fiction or nonfiction, picture books or novels, I believe in offering a kaleidoscope of unique perspectives and experiences to young readers that enticingly showcase a world of adventure and opportunity.
Since graduating from VCFA with an MFA in writing in 2018, I’ve spent most of my creative time composing & revising picture books and middle grade novels. When I’m not writing, I’m extremely distracted by my other loves: my beautiful grands who inspire my writing (You can call me YaYa!) and my students at Stevenson University where I teach writing (Ok, call me Professor YaYa!). When I find the time, I also blog about books.
I also happen to be one of those eternal optimist folks, the kind who looks for and points to beauty in everything, especially picture books. I LOVE to collect, talk about, & give away picture books! In fact, because I truly believe every story is important and has an audience, I see something wonderful in every single one. I discover all the silver linings and hidden gems, the rainbows and miracles, the sunshine in the shadows.
WHAT DO I DO?
Words. I do words. I write. I teach writing. I edit/grade stories/essays. I read (LOTS of picture books but also other stuff). I love words so much that I spend my spare time doing New York Times crossword puzzles on my phone!
WHY DO I DO IT?
I believe words are magic. Spoken, they reverberate the air and echo away into the universe, flowing forever outward on airwaves. I believe they impact us in positive or negative ways, and that the impact is powerful and lasting. Written words can be treasures, pearls, secret loves to keep in your pocket, or a locket, but near your heart.
